Illinois reports 2,758 new COVID-19 cases, 110 additional deaths

Friday

State public health officials on Friday announced 2,758 new, confirmed cases of COVID-19 and an additional 110 deaths.

That includes a Peoria County man in his 50s, a Boone County man in his 40s, and a Winnebago County woman in her 90s.

There have now been 105,444 confirmed cases of the disease caused by the new coronavirus, and 4,715 deaths in Illinois, Illinois Department of Public Health director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said Friday afternoon at a news conference in Springfield.

Ezike and Gov. JB Pritzker are there for what was expected to be the final day of an abbreviated legislative session.

Noting that traditionally Memorial Day weekend marked the beginning of the summer season, Ezike reminded people to forego large gatherings and persist in their social-distancing activities.

"Although it's unfortunate that we can't throw a barbecue for 100 of our friends, I think it's clear why we are in that situation," she said.

Meanwhile, Pritzker announced that next Friday when the state moves to the third phase of his reopening plan, all child-care facilities will be able to reopen for service, though initially at a capacity of only 10 children per classroom.

After four weeks of operating under those limits, they will be able to expand to a level of 70% of their set capacity.

In response to a query, Pritzker also indicated that outdoor church services, including drive-in services, are permitted in the third phase of reopening.

And Ezike threw cold water on the idea of reopening nursing homes and other senior-care facilities throughout the state to visitors, noting the high concentration of cases in settings that have already been locked down to visitors.

"The virus does not come up ... from nowhere," in those sites now, she said. "The virus has to be brought in."

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